Feed-water heater



(No Model.)

A. F. WARD.

FEED WATER HEATER.

Patented June 19 7% 6 7 W I; a

If Z5 W M N. PETERS. Phuln-Liuw m lw. Washingwn, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER F. VVAR-D, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 279,848, dated June 19, 1883,

Application filed April 19. 198,1.

had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in feed-water heaters; and it consists, first, in the peculiar construction and arrangement of a series of spiral troughs in which the feed-water is exposed to the action of the exhaust-steam within the heater; second, in the devices employed for freeing the feed-water from the solid precipitations before conducting it to the boiler; third, in the disposition and arrangement of the different parts within the heater shell; fourth, in the con structive features of some of the operating p arts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my feed-water heater. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the spiral troughs with a peripheral discharge. Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the spiral troughs with a central discharge. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line X X.

A is the cylindrical shell of the heater, which is provided with a detachable cover, B, and a dischargepipe, O, for the escape of air and non-condensed steam from the heater.

D is the inlet forthe supply-water. E is the inlet for the exhaust-steam; F, the overflowpipe, and G the feed-water-supply pipe. The lower end of the shell forms an inverted coni cal receptacle, H, provided with a bottom dischargepipe, I.

J are the supporting-legs of the device. K is an overflow-valve controlled by afloat,

M is a spreader-disk over the discharge end of the steam-inlet pipe E.

N is a diaphragnndished toward the center, which is provided with the opening 0.

' P is a short perforated cylinder of smaller diameter than the shell, and placed concentri cally within the same, so as to form an annular water-chamber, Q, extending between the bottom a of the shell and the diaphragm N.

R is a cylindrical cage or screen,'made of burlap or other suitable material, and secured (No model.)

| at the top and bottom to the rings or frames 0 (7, respectively. The top frame, c, is sup ported upon the annular flange c of the perforated cylinder, and fits snugly into the interstice left between the latter and the diaphragm N, thereby forming an inelosed settling-chamber, S, to which the only access is through the opening 0.

T T are an alternating series of metal pans located in the upper part of the heater. As shown in the drawings, each of these pans represents a trough arranged in spiral form, with open interstices between the convolutions. In the pans T the trough forms a helix with the highest point in the periphery and the lowest in the center, which is there provided with a bottom discharge, f. The pans T are formed similarly with the highest point of the trough, however, in the center, and the lowest point in the periphery, which is there provided with a bottom outlet, f. These pans are supported, one below the other, in alternating series, in any convenient manner, upon each other, or upon lugs on the inside of the heater-shell, so that they may be easily removed and replaced again. They may be made, preferably, of castiron as thin asconvenient, especially at the edges of the troughs, and when in position must leave an annular space between them and the shell of the heater.

In practice the water-supply is conducted through the inlet D upon the periphery of the top pan, and, following the convolutions of the trough, flows to the center of the pan, from where it is discharged upon the next lower pan, which conducts the water in the convolutions of the trough toward its periphery, from whence it is discharged again upon the next lower pan, and so on through all the remaining pans until it is discharged from the last one in a heated condition, owing to the action of the incoming exhaust-steam, which, on its passage from the steam-inlet E toward the discharge C, is obliged to part with most of its heat by being brought in contact with all the exposed surfaces of the pans. The spreader M, the peculiar shape and arrangement of the pan, the small contracting interstices between the convolutions of the troughs, and the thin edges thereof, all combine to make the steam in its upward passage permeate the whole space and part with its heat by direct and iiidirect contact with the supply-water carried down in the troughs. All the sediment from the water falls upon the dished diaphragm N, which discharges it through the opening 0 into the settling-chamber S, which collects it at the bottom thereof and allows the removal by opening the valve U in the pipe I. The peculiar construction of the settling-chamber S makes its action very effective, as no disturbing action can pass within.

The feed-water for the steam-generator is obtained from the water-chamber Q, and in or der to pass to that chamber it has to pass first through the meshes of the vertical screen I1, whereby all sediment is retained.

It will be seen that the arrangement and construction of all the parts are very favorable for selt clcaning and for the easy removal of all sediment; for convenience sake, however, the device is also provided withhand-holes where deemed advisable.

\Vhat I claim as my inventionis 1. In a feed-water heater, a series of pans each provided with an open eonvolute water way, the said pans being supported and ar ranged in alternating oppositely-inclined positions, with discharge openings from each, alternating from center to circumference, all arranged and combined to form a continuous watenway through thewholc series, and to form steam-passages between the individual pairs and their convolute ways, substantially as here in set forth. a I 2. Ina feed-water heater, an open spiral water way or trough whose open passages between ,forated diaphragm N, forming the means of exit and entrance of the feed-water, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a 'fced-watei. heater wherein a cylindrieal mud-screen is placed at the top of an inverted conical settlingchamber, with the water-inlet centrally to it, and the \VILtOY-Cllitllh ber from which the supply is drawn circunr ierentially around it, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ALEXANDER, F. \VARD. Vi tnesses:

II. S. SPRAGUE/ 1E. XV. ANDnEws. 

